Style Magazine - April 2021
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community. Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.) Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces. Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring. If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers! —Megan megan@stylemg.com @meggoeggowaffle
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community.
Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.)
Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces.
Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring.
If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers!
—Megan
megan@stylemg.com
@meggoeggowaffle
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Boarding on the Lake<br />
HORSE AROUND<br />
Explore the outdoors on the backs of these gentle creatures<br />
and see the world from a whole new perspective. Boarding<br />
on the Lake (boardingonthelake.com) in Granite Bay offers<br />
rides along Folsom Lake trails, through wooded forests<br />
and along the beach, while Shadow Glen Riding Stables<br />
(shadowglenstables.com) in Fair Oaks offers western trail<br />
rides along the American River at Lake Natoma.<br />
EAT YOUR VEGGIES<br />
The best part about living in one of the nation’s top<br />
agricultural-producing states? A farmers’ market is at<br />
your fingertips just about every day of the<br />
week. Spend a crisp Saturday morning<br />
strolling through the 70+ vendor booths<br />
at the Historic Folsom<br />
Farmers Market<br />
(bemoneysmartusa.<br />
org/historicfolsom),<br />
pick up a bouquet of<br />
fresh blooms at one<br />
of the PlacerGROWN<br />
farmers’ markets<br />
(placergrown.org) in<br />
Auburn or Roseville, or<br />
grab just-picked produce<br />
at one of El Dorado County’s<br />
myriad markets starting in June<br />
PlacerGROWN (eldoradofarmersmarket.com).<br />
ROW YOUR BOAT<br />
Are the rivers and lakes calling your name? Whether it’s a relaxing<br />
kayak trip or an adrenaline-filled rafting trip, these places have you<br />
covered for all your gear. American River Raft Rentals (raftrentals.<br />
com) allows for self-guided raft trips on the lower American River.<br />
Rent 4-12 person rafts, paddleboards, and 1-2 person kayaks.<br />
Adventure Sports Rentals (adventuresports.rentals) offers regular<br />
and pedal kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to use at Lake<br />
Natoma. Sac State Aquatic Center (sacstateaquaticcenter.com)<br />
offers kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes for a serene trip on Lake<br />
Natoma. Rafting at the South Fork of the American River starts<br />
this month and goes until September. Visit coloma.com/recreation/<br />
whitewater-rafting for a list of outfitters.<br />
American River Raft Rentals<br />
Horse photo courtesy of Boarding on the Lake. Veggie photos courtesy of PlacerGROWN. Raft photo courtesy of American River Raft Rentals.<br />
62 stylemg.com | APRIL <strong>2021</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
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